Nearby Locations: The Coast Eastwards
For a wonderful day of exploring, head eastwards from the Roman Camp Caravan Park and follow the B1159 coast road from Cromer. This quiet road hugs the coastline all the way down to the edge of the Broads, passing sandy beaches, lighthouses, windmills and some of the best seal watching in England.
Overstrand to Mundesley
The first stop is Overstrand, a peaceful village with a fine sandy beach that is often much quieter than Cromer’s. Continuing along the road you will pass the giant white radar dome of RAF Trimingham beside the road, a striking landmark visible for miles.
Mundesley has a lovely Blue Flag beach and is home to perhaps the smallest museum in Britain, the Mundesley Maritime Museum, housed in the former coastguard lookout on the seafront. Entry is free and the displays cover the village’s lifeboats, its long lost railway and wartime history, with the upstairs restored as a 1930s coastguard lookout.
On the southern side of the village stands Stow Mill, a handsome tower windmill and local landmark. It has now been converted into holiday accommodation and is no longer open to visitors, but it still makes a fine photograph from the roadside.
Happisburgh
At Happisburgh (pronounced Haisborough) you will see the famous red and white striped lighthouse. Built in 1790, it is the oldest working light in East Anglia and the only independently operated lighthouse in Great Britain, saved from closure by the villagers themselves and run entirely by volunteers. On occasional Sundays and bank holidays through the summer you can climb the 112 steps to the lantern for superb views along the coast.
Waxham and Horsey
Waxham has a magnificent thatched barn, Waxham Great Barn, the longest ancient barn in Norfolk at 56 metres. Built in the late 16th century, partly from shipwreck timbers, it has been beautifully restored and is free to look around, with a popular cafe in one of its wings. It is well worth a stop to photograph and to view.
Next along is Horsey, where the National Trust looks after Horsey Windpump. This restored drainage windpump has its sails turning once again, and from the top of its 61 steps you have magnificent views over Horsey Mere, one of the Norfolk Broads. There is a small cafe by the staithe, and walks lead from the windpump across the marshes to the beach at Horsey Gap. This stretch of coast is home to one of England’s largest grey seal colonies. Between November and January thousands of seals haul out on the beach to have their pups, an unforgettable sight, and seals can often be spotted offshore at any time of year. Don’t forget to take your camera and binoculars.
Winterton and Hemsby
Continuing along the B1159 you pass through the villages of Winterton and Hemsby. If you stop, you will find rolling sand dunes and clean sandy beaches to explore. The dunes at Winterton are a National Nature Reserve, and the beach here is another favourite haunt of the seals.
